“I expect our gauges will tell us something similar … We know the levels in the trunk sanitary sewer that goes to the Lou Romano (Water Reclamation Plant) were way high.

“It’s because of all the storm water that infiltrates the system.”

Precipitation levels in excess of 70 millimetres were dumped on our region and Detroit in the space of a few hours after 6 p.m. Monday, prompting rainfall and flooding warnings from Environment Canada and U.S. weather authorities.

Communities in Michigan such as Warren and Ferndale saw some of their worst flooding in years. Michigan state police urged motorists to avoid travel on Detroit freeways, as many major routes were impassable due to water.

A woman in downtown Windsor holds up a magazine against the rain on Aug. 11, 2014. (Dan Janisse / The Windsor Star)

Environment Canada first issued a special weather statement just before 6 p.m.

By 8 p.m., Windsor-Essex had received as much as 40 millimetres of rain.

Windsor-Essex was one of the first Ontario communities affected. Meteorologists predicted the southwestern part of the province would receive its biggest drenching on Monday night, with Central Ontario and Eastern Ontario getting their share Tuesday.

Sonego asked that residents experiencing basement flooding wait until Tuesday morning to call 311, after the information and reporting line re-opens at 7 a.m.

“We had a day of rain followed by a significant downpour in a short amount of time,” Sonego said in a statement issued late Monday.

“Calling 311 is the best way we have of tracking and acting on the flooding.”

A flooded yard in the Riverside area of Windsor on Aug. 11, 2014. Image submitted by reader Denis Barrette.

For detailed inquiries, the city’s maintenance division can be reached at 519-255-6326.

But some residents dealing with histories of flooding on their property were at the end of their patience with the city on Monday night.

“It’s ridiculous,” said Mike O’Hearn, a homeowner in the 4000 block of Villa Borghese in South Windsor. “Our basements are flooding once again … I’m telling ya, I’ve got neighbours who have a foot of water in their basements.”

“I’ve got two sump pumps going. We’re paying $5,000 a year in taxes. It is ridiculous!”

Leka and Stella Sodade, who live on Massimo Crescent in the Southwood Lakes subdivision of Windsor, documented water pouring like a fountain from their yard into their basement.

According to the Sodades, the build-up was the result of a “failure of public drainage,” and resulted in flooding “up to four feet” in their basement.

Pools of water at McEwan Avenue and Riverside Drive West in Windsor on Aug. 11, 2014. Image submitted by reader Kimberly.

Pools of water at McEwan Avenue and Riverside Drive West in Windsor on Aug. 11, 2014. Image submitted by reader Kimberly.

Hannah Dingle stands in a large puddle on Victoria Street in Amherstburg on Aug. 11, 2014. Image by reader Jen Dingle.

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